Directories

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet - Web Resources

Key web pages and entry points for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Ahead of the Game: Blueprint for Reform of Australian Government Administration

Released by the Government on 29 March 2010. The report outlines an agenda to equip the Australian Public Service (APS) and the nation for the challenges of the future. Chair: Terry Moran.

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/publications/aga_reform/aga_reform_blueprint/index.cfm

Anniversary messages (anniversary and birthday greetings from the Prime Minister, Governor-General and the Queen)

Australians celebrating a special birthday or wedding anniversary can receive personal congratulations from the Prime Minister, Governor-General or The Queen. This page provides a table showing who is eligible and details for arranging the message.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/anniversary/index.cfm

Announcements

Throughout each year there are a range of 'Honours Announcements' made public. These include the Australia Day Honours on Australia Day, January 26, Queen's Birthday Honours in June, Honorary Awards - Order of Australia and Australian Bravery Decorations announcements. This site details the awards and recipients

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/announcements.cfm

Australian Bravery Decorations

Australian Bravery Decorations recognise acts of bravery by members of the community. They selflessly put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others. Bravery or courage differs from fortitude in a crisis situation. Bravery is a deliberate choice to go from a place of safety to danger or remain in a perilous position to provide help. The Cross of Valour is the highest bravery decoration. It is awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/bravery.cfm

Australian national anthem

This page contains information relating to the Australian National Anthem. Includes an explanation of when the anthem should be sung, the words and the sheet music for the anthem which are available for download.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/anthem.cfm

Australian national flag

Information page describing the symbolism, history, protocols and commercial use of the Australian flag. Flag images and templates can be downloaded from links on the page.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/flag.cfm

Awards

There are 53 awards in the Australian honours system and the best known of these is the Order of Australia. From this page you can explore the A-Z lists of both Australian and Imperial awards, find out how and when to wear a medal, and what post-nominal entitlements apply as well as learn about honorary awards and foreign awards.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/

Cabinet Implementation Unit

The Cabinet Implementation Unit was established to help the Prime Minister and the Government manage and deliver the Government’s strategic reform priorities, including reporting to the Prime Minister on progress with the delivery of these priorities across the Australian Public Service.

http://www.pmc.gov.au/implementation/

Calendar of events for Honours and National Symbols

Calendar of events by month and date for Honours and National Symbols. Includes information about which flags to fly on specific days.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/calendar.cfm

Commonwealth Coat of Arms

The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is the formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia and its authority and ownership. This page links to guidelines on the use of the arms and various images of the Coat of Arms.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/coat-arms/

Commonwealth Coat of Arms and Government branding

The Awards and Culture Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is responsible for administering the Guidelines on the use of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and the Australian Government Branding Design Guidelines.

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/guidelines/#brand

Community cabinet

Community Cabinet meetings give people in the community an opportunity to meet with Cabinet members in person and ask questions directly about issues which are important to them. Community Cabinet meetings will be held at various venues across Australia and details of future meetings are available from this site.

http://www.pmc.gov.au/community_cabinet/index.cfm

Contact Your PM

There are more ways than one to stay in touch with your Prime Minister. You can ask the Prime Minister a question, give advice and pass on well-wishes here, subscribe to the news alert service, join the discussion, follow the Prime Minister's twitter feed and send an email.

http://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm

Electoral reform

The Australian Government has released two green papers on electoral reform: Electoral Reform Green Paper – Donations, Funding and Expenditure, and Electoral Reform Green Paper – Strengthening Australia’s Democracy. This page provides links to both green papers as well as links to advice on how to make submissions and participate in the online discussion forum.

http://www.pmc.gov.au/consultation/elect_reform/

Floral emblem

Australia's national floral emblem is the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha Benth.). This page has more information about the significance, history, proclamation and use of the national floral emblem.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/flora.cfm

Gemstone

Australia's national gemstone is the opal, a stone famous across the world for its brilliant colours. This page has more information about the significance, history, proclamation and use of the national gemstone.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/gemstone.cfm

Guidance on caretaker conventions (PDF 111KB)

Updated May 2010. During the caretaker period, the business of government continues and ordinary matters of administration still need to be addressed. However, successive governments have followed a series of practices, known as the 'caretaker conventions', which aim to ensure that their actions do not bind an incoming government and limit its freedom of action.

http://www.pmc.gov.au/guidelines/docs/caretaker_conventions.pdf

Guidelines and procedures

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet provides advice to other Australian Government agencies on many aspects of public administration. This section highlights some of these guidelines and procedures.

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/guidelines/index.cfm

Honoured Australians

Australian honours recognise and celebrate ordinary Australians who show courage, self-sacrifice, dedication, love and service to their community and humanity. Their stories help shape our country's enduring qualities in the present and the future.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honoured/index.cfm

Honours

Australia has a system of honours and awards so its citizens can be recognised for excellence, achievement or meritorious service. This page links to a wealth of information covering all aspects of Australian honours including details about our honours system and all you need to know about awards.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/index.cfm

National colours

The national colours, green and gold, hold a treasured place in the Australian imagination. This page has more information about the significance, history, proclamation and use of the national colours.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/colours.cfm

National Medal

The National Medal recognises long and diligent service by members of recognised organisations that help the community during times of crisis. This includes government organisations such as ambulance, correctional, emergency, fire and police forces, and voluntary organisations such as lifesaving or search and rescue groups. The National Medal is Australia’s most awarded civilian medal.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/national_medal.cfm

Order of Australia

In the Australian honours system appointments to the Order of Australia confer the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service. There are two divisions of the Order of Australia: the Civil or General Division and the Military Division.

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/order_of_australia.cfm

Parliamentary information

The resources linked to from this page provide information about the current parliament and advice and guidance about the operations of Cabinet and the Federal Executive. Resources include the Administrative Arrangements Order, Ministry List, Parliamentary Sitting Dates, Legislation Proposed for Introduction and the Draft Legislation Programmes. There are also links to the Cabinet Handbook, the Federal Executive Council Handbook and the Legislation Handbook.

http://www.pmc.gov.au/parliamentary/index.cfm

Prime Minister and Cabinet annual report

Index page to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet annual reports. Reports are available in PDF format and can be downloaded in full, or in sections.

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/annual_reports/index.cfm

Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio budget statements 2013-14

Links to the Department's Portfolio Budget Statements 2013-14.

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/accountability/budget/2013-14/index.cfm

Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard

The Australian Prime Minister's website provides information about the Government's priorities. Includes information about the members of the Government, recent announcements and publications, and how to contact the Prime Minister.

http://www.pm.gov.au/

Securing Australia – Protecting our Community

The Counter-Terrorism White Paper, Securing Australia – Protecting our Community, sets out Australia’s counter-terrorism objectives and the means by which the Government will pursue them. It explains the nature of the terrorist threat to Australia within Australia’s broader national security context; sets out the Australian Government’s strategy for countering terrorism; and details the policy settings by which the Government will implement its counter-terrorism strategy.

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/publications/counter_terrorism/index.cfm

Standards of Ministerial Ethics (PDF 67KB)

The Australian people are entitled to expect the highest standards of behaviour from their elected representatives in general and Ministers in particular. These Standards give a clear indication of the expectations of Ministers.

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/guidelines/docs/ministerial_ethics.pdf

Victoria Cross for Australia

The Victoria Cross for Australia is the pre-eminent award for acts of bravery in wartime and Australia's highest military honour. It is awarded to persons who, in the presence of the enemy, display the most conspicuous gallantry; a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice; or extreme devotion to duty.

australia.gov.au